by Jessica Andrews
Growing up in the States, I had heard two things about the origins of Halloween: 1) that it had originated as a Pagan festival and 2) that it was the secular version of the Catholic All Hallow's Eve. I suppose both could technically be true, as many people believe that All Hallow's Eve (as well as the two days of holidays that follow it: All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day) had some origin in pagan festivals that traditionally occurred around the same time.
Which pagan festival is under dispute: it could be the end-of-harvest feast for the Roman goddess Pomona who watches over fruits and seeds, the ancient Roman Parentalia festival of the dead or the Celtic festival of Samhain marking the end of summer and beginning of winter. Whichever it is, what we do know is that the Catholic holidays were celebrated centuries earlier than our modern, Americanized Halloween.
Fonte: L'italo-Americano
